The Smallest Weekend Of The Year Sees ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’ Score A Hattrick with $16m: Box Office Report

Friday to Sunday in the Box Office sphere saw just $84.5m grossed from 87 movies across the United States, and was topped by three-time winner ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ with $16.3m. Only two films in 2018 have stayed at number 1 in the Box Office charts for longer than ‘Ralph’, and both – ‘Black Panther’ (5 weekends) and ‘Jumanji’ (4 weekends) – became Box Office behemoths in the process.

‘Ralph’ won’t be following in their footsteps, as its three-peat is the result of a severe lack of Box Office competition than a record-breaking opening or an incredibly leggy run. Although it won’t tip Disney’s balance sheet like ‘Black Panther’ did, it does, however, stand at a respectable $141m after 3 weekends.

Internationally, it added an extra $18m for a worldwide total of $258.9m, and should top ‘Wreck-It Ralph’s $471.2m global gross by the end of December.

All seems well for those at Disney, although the lingering fear that ‘Ralph’s $175m price-tag may harm the potential of theatrical profitability is only heightened by comparisons to ‘The Grinch’, who, after earning $15m this weekend, becomes the 6th biggest domestic film of the year with $222.3m in the bank ($325.2m globally).

This retelling of Dr. Seuss’ ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’, produced by ‘Minions’ helmers Illumination, cost $100m less than ‘Ralph’ and sits comfortably behind ‘Incredibles 2’ as the second biggest animated film of the year.

Both studios take vastly different approaches to their productions, with Disney’s focus on improvements in picture quality resulting in ballooning budgets and giant break-even numbers. This may work when ‘Incredibles 2’ earned $1.2bn off of a $200m production cost, but for the smaller releases like ‘Ralph’, it’s the Illumination model that shines the brightest.

Next is MGM’s ‘Creed II’, earning $10m for 3rd place, ahead of ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ ($7m) and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ ($6.1m). A 40% drop edges it ever closer to the century mark domestically, and just $13m away from reaching ‘Creed’s total gross. Its sights are firmly set on ‘Rocky IV’s $127.9m domestic total however, which still stands as the biggest boxing movie gross in U.S. history, 33 years after its release. It’s a title ‘Creed II’ should definitely win, although upsets do happen.

Finally, last weekend’s lonely newcomer ‘The Possession of Hannah Grace’ brought in $3.2m from Friday to Sunday, leaving it on a respectable $11.5m gross overall.

The quiet before the storm; this weekend was the last without any new wide releases before next week’s onslaught. Who is going to suffer the most when 3 new films come into play next weekend? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter and Instagram – we’re at @JUMPCUT_ONLINE.